Telescopic weapon aiming system

ABSTRACT

A telescopic optical sight for aiming a weapon at a target is described. The telescopic optical sight comprises an eyepiece, a first reticule, a second reticule spaced laterally from said first reticule, and at least one object lens. The first and second reticules are between the eyepiece and the object lens, and the second reticule aligns with the first to aim the weapon. The first reticule is the principle focus for the telescopic optical sight.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-in-Part of application Ser. No.09/433,317 filed Nov. 3, 1999, which is a Continuation-in-Part ofapplication Ser. No. 09/039,083 filed Jan. 29, 1998, now abandoned

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a device for enhancing the accuracyof a conventional single reticule telescopic sight.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to telescopic sighting and, morespecifically to an improved telescopic sight for the aiming of weapons.

Normal optical (telescopic) sights have a single point of referencecalled a reticule (crosshairs) which the shooter has to align with thetarget. The problem with this single point of reference is that theshooters eye has to be aligned along the centerline of the weapon whilepositioning the crosshairs on the target, therefore, the telescopicsight offers no help, and in fact introduces a source of error. In otherwords, shooters have to learn to keep their heads in the same positioneach time they aim, which of course is why it is so difficult to hit thetarget.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, a telescopic optical sight for aiming a weapon at atarget is provided. The telescopic optical sight comprises an eyepiece,a first reticule, a second reticule spaced laterally from said firstreticule, and at least one object lens. The first reticule and thesecond reticule are between the eyepiece and the object lens. The firstreticule is the principle focus for the sight and the second reticulealigns with the first to aim the weapon.

In another aspect, a weapon sighting device for use within a telescopicoptical sight is provided. The device comprises a surface having adiscontinuity at the center of the surface. The sighting device isconfigured to be incorporated into a telescopic optical sight at aposition between a reticule and an object lens and wherein thediscontinuity is spaced longitudinally from and aligned with a reticule.

In still another aspect, a method for aligning a telescopic sight with atarget is provided. The telescopic sight includes an eyepiece, an objectlens, a first reticule and a second reticule, the first reticule and thesecond reticule being between the eyepiece and the object lens. Themethod comprises aligning a first reticule of the sight with the targetand superimposing the second reticule over the first reticule, while thefirst reticule is in alignment with the target.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of the invention as an attachment to a normaltelescopic sight.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the invention used internallyas a second reticule in a telescopic sight.

FIG. 3 shows a number of embodiments of transparent disks.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention is essentially a surface with a discontinuity at itscenter placed some distance from but aligned with a reticule of atelescopic sight. Referring to FIG. 1 an optical sight item 10 (e.g. asingle reticule telescopic sight) is shown. Also shown is a flexiblesleeve 12 into which is inserted a disk 14. Sleeve and disk 14 incombination form an assembly which may be pushed over an eyepiece 16 ofsight 10 to form a complete unit. The disk and sleeve assembly, referredto herein as a weapon aiming device, or weapon sighting device, providesa second point of reference, or second reticule, for a sight or aimingdevice that has only one point of reference or reticule. The singlepoint of reference is sometimes referred to in the art as a principlefocus point, and is ordinarily provided as a single reticule within thetelescopic sight. In one embodiment, the second reticule is a disk 14fabricated from a suitably colored transparent material with a hole 18at a center of disk 14.

In exemplary embodiments, disk 14 is placed between an observers eye(line of sight indicated by the arrow) and a reticule of sight 10,though by suitably arranging the optics of the sight any arrangement ispossible, for example placing the weapon aiming device over a second end20 of sight 10.

The weapon aiming device may include a circular tinted disk 14 with ahole at its center placed at one of a flexible sleeve 12. Sleeve 12enables easy attachment to an optical or similar functioning sight 10.The tint may be of any color, however it has to be of sufficientintensity and contrast to the coloring of the attached sight system(e.g. sight 10) to enable the hole at its center to be visible andsuperimposed on the reticule of sight 10.

Diameter of hole 18 at the disk center should be optimized for thegeometric shape of the symbol of the reticule (e.g. cross hairs).Alternatively, hole 18 could simply be an area of contact with theremaining area of disk 14, as long as there are sufficient conditionsand difference in color between disk 14 and lenses incorporated withinsight 10. In one exemplary embodiment, a diameter of approximately 1 mmis an expected order of magnitude for this hole or contrasting area.

The aiming device may include multiple disks 14, mounted in sleeve 12,one behind the other, each one being easily removable such that theoverall transparency may be altered to better suit ambient lightconditions. The multiple disks may incorporate different hole sizes suchthat removal of one or more may alter a size of the hole presented to auser of the aiming device. The aiming device may also include a numberof optically polarized disks arranged such that their relative movementwill effect their transparency. The aiming device may also include adisk made from a number of sections such that their relative movementwill alter the size of the center hole.

The aiming device may also include an electrically active screen (e.g.,liquid crystal display) such that its color and center hole can bevaried. The hole 18 at the center would not necessarily be a physicalhole in the screen, but simply an area of different aspect.

The aiming device may form an integral part of an optical or similarfunctioning sight, rather than as a removable attachment as shown inFIG. 1. FIG. 2 illustrates a telescopic sight 50 which incorporates asecond reticule, for example, internal disks 52 to improve accuracy ofsight 50. Disks 52 incorporate the same features as disks 14 (shown inFIG. 1). Telescopic sight 50 further includes an eyepiece lens 54. Asecond reticule (e.g. disks 52) is fit into sight 50 between a firstreticule 56 and object lenses 58 which are located within collimator 60.Sight further includes a lens 62 at a forward facing end 64 of sight 50.Adjustment means 66 are used to ensure a center of disks 52 are alignedwith first reticule 56.

Disks 52 may include one or more holes which are positioned such thatthey provide a second reticule which aligns with elements of firstreticule 56 of sight 50, and hence assist the operator to moreaccurately align the two. Preferably, the hole 68 at the center of disk52 is sized and shaped so as to align with the shape of first reticule56.

FIG. 3 illustrates a plurality of embodiments for disks 14 (shown inFIG. 1) and 52 (shown in FIG. 2). A colored transparent disk 70 with asingle hole 72 is shown. While hole 72 is shown as a circle, it iscontemplated that hole 72 could be any geometric form as long as hole 72is aligned with first reticule 56 (shown in FIG. 2) to act as a secondreticule for better alignment of telescopic sight 50 with a target. Inanother embodiment, a transparent disk 74 incorporates different aspector colored concentric circle 76 around a hole 78. Also a transparentdisk 80 incorporates a transparent concentric circle 82 around hole 84.

Preferably, any of the above described disks mounted in sleeve 12 or insight 50 are configured such that when using a conventional singlereticule optical sight, the concentric circles and/or the hole issuperimposed upon the reticule. Furthermore, as a means for aligning thedisk with the reticule, a reticule could be provided with a number ofconcentric circles in addition to the usual cross hairs. Therefore, itis easier for a user to accurately align the superimposed circle and thereticule circles so as to be concentric in comparison to the ability ofa user to align the superimposed circle formed by the hole in thecolored disk with the cross hairs of the optical sight.

The aiming device may also be used with an electronic sight which uses aliquid crystal display or a cathode ray tube for forming the reticule.In summary, the system described herein is either a back sight which isa simple add on to an existing telescopic sight or a device mechanicallyincorporated into such a telescopic sight. The device enables the weaponto be aimed in a similar manner to one utilizing iron forward and rearsights (two points of reference), though of course with much greateraccuracy.

While the invention has been described in terms of various specificembodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the inventioncan be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of theclaims.

1-11. (canceled)
 12. A weapon sighting device for use within atelescopic optical sight, said device comprising a surface having adiscontinuity in said surface, said sighting device configured to beincorporated into a telescopic optical sight at a position near areticule, and between an eyepiece lens and an object lens and whereinthe discontinuity is spaced longitudinally from and aligned with thereticule.
 13. A weapon sighting device according to claim 12 whereinsaid surface comprises at least one circular, transparent disk having ahole there through, the hole being the discontinuity in said surface.14. A weapon sighting device according to claim 13 wherein said hole isapproximately 1 mm in diameter.
 15. A weapon sighting device accordingto claim 13 wherein said hole is located at a center of said circulardisk.
 16. A weapon sighting device according to claim 13 wherein saiddisk is colored.
 17. A weapon sighting device according to claim 12wherein said surface comprises a reference point to align with thereticule.
 18. A weapon sighting device according to claim 12 wherein aposition of said surface and a position of the reticule areinterchangeable.
 19. A weapon sighting device according to claim 12wherein said surface may be positioned on either side of a focal pointof an optical system, such that neither said device nor said reticule isat the focal point of the optical system.
 20. A weapon sighting deviceaccording to claim 12 wherein said surface comprises a plurality ofcircular, transparent, and colored disks each having a hole therethrough each said disk incorporating a different diameter for said hole.21. A weapon sighting device according to claim 12 wherein said surfacecomprises at least one circular, transparent disk having a hole therethrough, said circular disk comprising a concentric circle around saidhole.
 22. A weapon sighting device according to claim 21 wherein saidconcentric circle has a different color than a remainder of saidcircular disk. 23-25. (canceled)
 26. A telescopic sighting devicecomprising: an eyepiece; a first reticule, provided at a focal point forsaid eyepiece of said telescopic optical sight; a second reticule,wherein said second reticule comprises at least one disk having acentered discontinuity, said second reticule spaced laterally from saidfirst reticule, said second reticule aligning with said first reticuleto aim the weapon; and at least one object lens, said first reticule andsaid second reticule between said eyepiece and said object lens.
 27. Atelescopic sighting device according to claim 26 wherein said at leastone disk is transparent.
 28. A telescopic sighting device according toclaim 26 further comprising an adjustment means, said means utilized toensure alignment of the centered discontinuity with said first reticule.29. A telescopic sighting device according to claim 26 wherein said atleast one disk comprises a plurality of optically polarized disks thatare arranged such that their relative arrangement with respect to oneanother affects the transparency through said plurality.
 30. Atelescopic sighting device according to claim 26 wherein said centereddiscontinuity comprises a hole through said disk.
 31. A telescopicsighting device according to claim 30 comprising a plurality of saiddisks, each said disk incorporating a different diameter for said holesuch that removal of one or more said disks alters a size of the holepresented to a user of said telescopic optical sight.
 32. A telescopicsighting device according to claim 30 wherein said disk comprises aconcentric circle around said hole.
 33. A telescopic sighting deviceaccording to claim 30 wherein said disk is configured with a thicknesssuch that said hole is presented to a user without a depth.
 34. Atelescopic sighting device according to claim 26 wherein said diskcomprises a concentric circle around said centered discontinuity, saidcircle having a different color than a remainder of said disk.
 35. Atelescopic sighting device according to claim 26 wherein said at leastone disk is transparent and colored.
 36. A telescopic sighting deviceaccording to claim 26 wherein said first reticule comprises: crosshairs; and a plurality of concentric circles, said circles for aligningsaid hole in said disk with said first reticule.